Reclosing circuit breaker system



Sept; 10, 9 H. G. M DONALD ET AL 2,214,590

BECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 7, 1935 WITNESSES: INVENTORS.Howard .Maaflonald $1 I 114% and A 72 wHzzl. K I I p Patented Sept. 10,1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,214,590 RECLOSING CIRCUIT BREAKERSYSTEM.

East Pittsburgh, Pa.,

sylvania a corporation of Penn- Application December 7, 1935, Serial No.53,384

22 Claims.

Our invention relates generally to electrical control systems and it hasparticular relation to circuit breaker reclosing systems.

"."he object of our invention, generally stated, is to provide a circuitbreaker reclcsing system which shall be simple and efficient inoperation and which may be readily and economically manufactured andinstalled.

The principal object of our invention is to provide for simultaneouslyinitiating sequences of functions for tripping a circuit breaker andreclosing it.

An important object of our invention is to provide for simultaneouslyenergizing the tripping and closing windings of a circuit breaker.

Another object of our invention is to provide for simultaneouslyinitiating sequences of functions for tripping a. circuit breaker andreclosing it in response to a fault occurring on one of the circuitsconnected by the circuit breaker.

Still another object of our invention is to provide for simultaneouslyenergizing the tripping and closing windings of a. circuit breaker inresponse to a fault occurring on one of the cir- Ill) cuits connected bythe circuit breaker.

A further object of our invention is to pro vide for preventing thefurtherreclosure of a circuit breaker during a predetermined intervalafter it hasbeen reclosed and tripped.

Still another object of our invention is to .pro-

vide for preventing further reclosure of a circuit breaker during apredetermined interval after it has been reclosed and tripped inresponse to a fault occurring and persisting on one of the circuitsconnected by the circuit breaker.

A concrete object of our invention is to provide a fault responsiverelay connected to simultaneously effect the energization of thetripping and closing windings ofv a circuit breaker to immediatelyeffect a reclosure thereof after it has been tripped in response to theoccurrence of a fault.

Other objects of our invention will, in part, be obvious and, in part,appear hereinafter.

Accordingly, our invention will be disclosed in (he embodiment hereofshown in the accompanying drawing and comprising the features ofconstruction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts whichwill be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and thescope of the application of which will be indicated in the appendedclaims.

For a more. complete understanding of the nature and scope of ourinvention reference may be had t the following detailed description,taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1illustrates diagrammatically a reclosing circuit breaker systemorganized in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates diagrammatically a reclosing circuit breaker system,similar to that shown in Fig. 1, having a fault responsive relay forcontrolling its function; and

Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically a circuit breaker reclcsing system,similar to that shown in Fig. 2, having a time delay relay forpreventing a second reclosure of the circuit breaker during apredetermined interval.

It is frequently desirable to effect a reclosure of a circuit breaker assoon as it is tripped in order that there may be a minimum of outage ofthe feeder circuit supplied from a power system through the circuitbreaker. In many instances,

a fault occurring on a line is of a temporary nature and is clearedduring the time that a circuit breaker is momentarily opened. In suchcase, therefore, it is desirable to provide for tripping out the circuitbreaker on the occurrence of a fault and to simultaneously initiate asequence of functions which will effect the immediate reclosure of thecircuit breaker.

In order to reclose a circuit breaker after it has been tripped, we haveprovided for simultaneously energizing the tripping and closing windingsof a circuit breaker. By means of a single control device we haveprovided for effecting the energization of the tripping winding and atthe same time the energization of the operating winding of an auxiliaryrelay which, in turn, is effective to connect the closing winding of thecircuit breakerv for energizatlon to a current source. The auxiliarycontrol relay operates within a very short interval and, therefore, theclosing winding is energized at the same time 40 that the trippingwinding is energized although its energization is initiated from 5 to 6cycles, of a (SO-cycle source, for example, after the tripping windingis energized.

In a modification of the invention, we have provided for effectingsubstantially simultaneous energization of the tripping and closingwindings in response to the operation of a fault responsive relay. Onthe occurrence of a fault on one of the circuits interconnected by thecircuit breaker, the fault responsive relay is operated to energize atripping winding and to also energize the operating winding of theauxiliary relay. This relay, in turn, is effective, as set forth above,to energize the closing winding. Therefore, as soon 55 as the circuitbreaker is tripped out, it is immediately reclosed with a minimum ofdelay.

In the event that the fault still persists on the system, it isdesirable that the circuit breaker be instantly reclosed only a singletime and that the system be prevented from reclosing more than a singletime in response to the occurrence of a fault. This operation is calledpumping. With a view to preventing the pumping of the circuit breaker, atime delay relay is provided which is effective to prevent a secondenergization of the closing winding during a predetermined intervalafter the fault responsive relay has been operated. By this means, ifthe fault persists after the first tripping operation, the circuitbreaker will not be reclosed a second time.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing it will be observedthat the reference character I!) designates, generally, a circuitbreaker which is arranged to connect circuits ii and i2 which have beenrepresented by conductors. The circuit breaker in is provided with aclosing winding l3W and a tripping winding MW. It will be understoodthat the representation of the circuit breaker i0 is diagrammatic onlyand that it is employed merely to illustrate the novel features of myinvention.

In order to simultaneously initiate one sequence of functions fortripping the circuit breaker and another sequence of functions forimmediately reclosing it, a control switch, shown generally at 15, isprovided having contact members [5a and l5b which are arranged to bebridged by means of a bridging member 150. Since it is desirable toprovide a special control feature in conjunction with the closingwinding I3W, an auxiliary control relay I6 is provided having contactmembers lGa which are arranged to complete an energized circuit for theclosing winding I3W. When the circuit breaker i0 is closed to apredetermined position, it is desirable to open the energizing circuitfor the closing winding I3W. This is effected by means of a releasingwinding lSRW.

associated with the auxiliary control relay l6 as illustrated, and, whenenergized, it is effective to break the mechanical connection betweenthe bridging member 16B for the contact members "5a and the armatureIBAR operated by the winding IGW. A control switch, shown generally atH, is also provided for initially effecting the closure of the circuitbreaker H].

In operation, it will be assumed that the control switch I! is closedfor the purpose of initially closing the circuit breaker Hi. When thecircuit breaker i0 is in the closed position, the control switch 45 maybe operated to trip it and to immediately reclose it.

The circuit for energizing the operating winding lSW of the auxiliarycontrol relay IS in response to the operation of the control switch l1may be traced from an energized conductor Li through the conductor 40,contact members Ila, conductor 4!, winding 16W and conductor 42 to anenergized conductor L2. The cir;uit for energizing the closing windingI3W may be traced from the conductor Ll through conductor 43, contactmembers lia, conductor H, closing winding ISW and conductor 42 toconductor L2.

As soon as the circuit breaker H! reaches a predetermined position inits travel to the closed position, a circuit is completed at contactmembers ID?) for energizing the releasing winding IERW of the auxiliarycontrol relay l6. As a result of its energization, the mechanicalconnection between the armature-JEAR and the bridging member 1613 isbroken and they are opened. As a result, the energizing circuit for theclosing winding l3W is opened. In this manner, regardless of how longthe control switch I! is held in the operated position, current will besupplied to the closing winding |3W only for a time sufficiently long toclose the circuit breaker The circuit for effecting energization of thereleasing winding IBRW may be traced from the conductor Ll throughconductor 40, contact members Ila, conductor 4|, releasing vn'nding(SRW, conductor 45, contact members H'Jb and conductor 46 to theconductor L2.

As soon as the control switch I! is released, the energizing circuit forthe operating winding 16W of the auxiliary control relay (6 is openedand it is deenergized.

The control switch l5 may now be operated to simultaneously effect theenergization of the tripping winding MW and the closing winding I3W.There is a slight delay in initiating the energize.- tion of the closingwinding |3W due to the provision of the auxiliary control relay Hi. However, in practice, this time delay is slight. The combination of thedelay introduced by the greater time constant of the closing winding I3Was compared with the time constant of the tripping winding MW and theoperation of the auxiliary control relay i6 is sufficient to permit thecircuit breaker 10 to be opened sufficiently far enough to break the aredrawn between the contact members of the circuit breaker ll! before theclosing winding I3W is energized to effect the reclosure.

The circuit for energizing the tripping winding MW may be traced fromthe conductor Ll through conductor 41, contact members a bridged by themember l5c, conductor 48, tripping winding HW, conductor 49, contactmembers Ma and conductor 46 to conductor L2.

It is obvious that the contact members l5b complete a circuit which isidentical with that completed by the control switch l1 and, therefore,the circuit for energizing the operating winding NW of the auxiliarycontrol relay l6 will not be retraced. It will, however, be understoodthat on operation of the control switch 15, the tripping winding MW isenergized and at the same time the operating winding SW of the auxiliarycontrol relay I6 is also energized. As soon as contact members lfia arebridged, the closing winding 13W is'energized. Since the time requiredfor the operation of the auxiliary control relay I5 is a matter of a fewcycles as measured by a Gil-cycle current, the tripping and closingwindings are energized substantially simultaneously. It is, therefore,possible to immediately effect a reclosure of the circuit breaker ID assoon as it is tripped.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will be observedthat a circuit is there shown which is adapted for control in responseto the occurrence of a fault on one of the circuits, for example thecircuit 2, to effect the tripping out and the reclosure of the circuitbreaker H]. For this purpose a current transformer 20 is provided whichis connected to effect the energization of the operating winding ZIW ofa fault responsive relay 2|. The contact members Zia of this relay maybe considered to perform the same function as the contact members |5aand 15b of the control switch 15, shown in Fig. 1. In oroer to providefor manual control of the circuit breaker III, a closing switch 22 and atrippina switch 23 are provided.

The circuit breaker Ill may be initially closed by operating the closingswitch 22. In response to the operation of the closing switch 22, the operating winding ISW of the auxiliary control relay I6 is energized andat contact members IBa a circuit is completed for energizing'the closingwinding I3W as set forth hereinbei'ore. the circuit breaker reaches apredetermined position, a circuit is completed at contactmembers Illbfor completing the energization of the releasing winding IGRW of theauxiliary control relay.

IS. The closing winding I3W is then deenergized. Since the circuits foreflectingthe energization of the operating winding IGW, completed atcontact members'22b, and for energizing the releasing winding IBRW arethe same as traced in connection with Fig. 1, they will not be retraced.

Assuming now that a fault occurs on the circuit I2, such as a shortcircuit, and that sufllcient current flows through the operating winding2IW to cause the contact members 2I a of the fault re sponsive relay 2Ito be bridged, then a circuit is completed for simultaneously eiIectingthe energizatlon oi the tripping winding NW and the operating windingISW oi the fault responsive relay IS. The circuit breaker I0 is thenpermitted 'to move toward the open position. Before it reaches the fullopen position, however, the closing winding I3W is energized to reclosethe circuit breaker. As a result, the connection between the circuits II and I2 is only momentarily broken and is restored immediately. V

The circuit for effecting the energization of the tripping winding I Wmay be traced from the conductor LI through conductor 50, contactmembers 2Ia, conductor 5|, winding IIW, conductor 49, contact membersIIIa and conductor 46 to the conductor L2. The circuit for energizingthe operating winding IIiW of the auxiliary control relay may be tracedfrom the conductor LI through conductor 50, contact members 2Ia,conductors 5i and 52, contact members 23a, conductor 53, contact members22a, conductor 4|, winding NEW, and conductor 42 to conductor L2.

As soon as contact members IIlb are bridged by the circuit breaker I0being reclosed to a predetermined position, a circuit'is completed fore1- ifecting the energization of the releasing winding IGRW over thecircuit previously traced for energizing the winding ISW. At contactmembers I Go the energizing winding for the closing winding I3W isopened and it is deenergized. In

the event that it is desired to manually close the circuit breaker I0,the closing switch.22 may be operated to bridge contact members 22b.Likewise, if it is desiredto trip the circuit breaker manually, thetripping switch 23 may be operated. At contact members 23b, a circuit iscompleted for effecting the energization oi. the tripping winding IlW.At contact members 23a, the circuit is opened for energizing. theoperating winding IBW of the auxiliary control relay I8 and, therefore,when the tripping switch 23 is operated, the circuit breaker III willnot be immediately reclosed. 7

Referring now particularly to Fig. 3 of, the drawing, it will be notedthat a circuit similar to that shown in Fig. 2 is illustrated. However,in order to prevent the circuit breaker II! from pumping in the eventthat the fault still persists after a single reclosure, a time delayrelay, shown generally at 30, is provided. .The time delay relay 30 isarranged to maintain the operating When winding IBW of the auxiliarycontrol relay II energized during a predetermined interval after thelast operation of the fault responsive relay 20 so that the circuitbreaker I0 will be reclosed only one time in the event 01' a fault.

The time delay relay 3!! is provided with an ,E-shaped armature core onthe center leg of which a neutralizing winding MN is positioned. Thiswinding is connected directly across the conductors LI and L2 forenergization. An operating winding 30W is also provided on the middlelegwhich, when energized, is arranged to cause the contact members 30ato be closed. By means of the adjusting spring 3i, the time required forthe contact members 30a to open after the operating winding 30W isdeenergized may be varied. The time delay relay 30 is of the typedisclosed in Patent 1,753,983 issued April 8, 1930, to W. G. Cook, andassigned to the assignee oi this application. I a

For the purpose of manually closing the circuit breaker III, the controlswitch I'I, shown in Fig. 1, may be provided. For manually tripping thecircuit breaker III, the control switch 23, shown in Fig. 2 may be used.

In operation, the circuit breaker I I) may be closed by manuallyoperating the closed switch I1. In response to'the operation of thisswitch, the auxiliary control relay I6 is operated to effect theenergization of the closing winding I3W. The releasing winding IBRW isenergized when the contact members IIlb are bridged and the closingwinding I3W is then deenergized. In like manner, the circuit breaker maybe manually tripped by operating the control switch 23. When this switchis operated, only the tripping winding MW will be energized.

Assuming now that the circuit breaker Ill has been closed and that afault occurs on the circuit I2 of such magnitude that the operatingwinding 2 IWof the fault responsive relay 2i is sufllciently energizedto bridge the contact members 2Ia, a circuit, which haspreviously beentraced, will then be completed to eifect the energization of thetripping winding I 4W and the circuit breaker III will be permitted tomove to the open position. At the same time, a circuit is also completedfor effecting the energization of the operating winding 30W of the timedelay relay 30. Contact members 3011 are then closed to complete acircult for efiecting the energization of the operating winding I 6W ofthe auxiliary control relay I6. I In turn, the closing winding I3W ofthe circuit breaker- I0 is energized. This circuit is opened as soon ascontact members I6a are opened since contact members IIlb are closed toeffect the energization of the releasing winding IBRW.

The circuit for effecting energization of the operating winding 30W maybe traced from the conductor LI through conductor 50, contact members2Ia, conductor. 60, contact members 23a,

conductor 6|, winding 30W and conductors 62 and 42 to the conductor L2.The circuit for energizing the operating winding IGW may be traced fromconductor LI through conductors 5|] and 63, contact members 30a,conductors 64 and I, winding I6W, and conductor l2 to conductor L2.

Due to the fact that contact members 30a remain closed for apredetermined time after the operating winding 30W is deenergized byopening of contact members 2Ia of the fault responsive relay 2|, thecircuit for energizing the winding I6W of the auxiliary control relay I6will be maintained. If, on reclosure of the circuit breaker Hi, thefault still persists, the fault responsive relay 2!] will again beoperated to again eifect the energization of the operating winding 30Wof the time delay relay 30. Since contact members 30a have meanwhileremained in the closed position, the time interval will be reinitiatedand will now begin at the time that the contact members 2Ia of the faultresponsive relay 2| are opened the second time. The reclosure of thesecontact members, however, effects a second energization of the trippingwinding MW and the circuit breaker I0 is again tripped. Since theoperating winding IGW of the auxiliary control relay l6 has not beendeenergized, the mechanical connection between its armature HEAR and thebridging contact member ISB is not restored. As a result, the closingwinding I3W is not reenergized and, therefore, the circuit breaker!!! isonly reclosed a single time.

After the expiration of the time interval for which the time delay relay30 is adjusted, the contact members 30a are opened and the circuit forefiecting the energization of the operating winding l6W of the auxiliarycontrol relay i8 is opened. No'further functioning of the system takesplace until the circuit breaker i0 is manually reclosed by operation ofthe closing switch Since certain further modifications may be made inthe foregoing constructions and different embodiments of the inventionmay be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intendedthat all matters shown in the accompanying drawing, or set forth in theforegoing specification, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

We claim as our invention:

1. A reclosing circuit breaker system comprising, in combination,closing means for the circuit breaker, tripping means for the circuitbreaker, and control means for substantially simultaneously effectingthe functioning of said closing and tripping means when the circuitbreaker is in the closed position, said control means including meanscontrolled by the circuit breaker for rendering the closing meansineffective to again immediately reclose the breaker.

2. A reclosing circuit breaker system comprising, in combination,tripping means for the circuit breaker, closing means for the circuitbreaker, means for initiating the operation of said tripping means whenthe circuit breaker is in the closed position, and relay means disposedto be responsive to the operation of said means for initiating theoperation of said closing means, said relay means being furtherresponsive to the closure of the circuit breaker to render the controlmeans ineffective to immediately initiate a second operation of theclosing means. 3. An operating system for a circuit breaker comprising,in combination, a closing winding disposed to operate the circuitbreaker to the closed position, a tripping winding disposed to releasethe circuit breaker for movement to the open position, and switch meanshaving open and closed operating positions for substantiallysimultaneously effecting when operated to the closed position theenergization 01' said windings when the circuit breaker is closed totrip it and immediately initiate a reclosure thereof before the fullopen position is reached and means responsive to the closing operationof the breaker operable to preclude a subsequent re-energization of theclosing winding until the switch means has been operated to the openposition.

4. An operating system for a circuit breaker comprising, in combination,a tripping winding disposed to release the circuit breaker for movementto the open position, a closing winding disposed to operate the circuitbreaker to the closed position, control means for effecting theenerglzation of saidtripping winding when the circuit breaker is in theclosed position, and auX-' iliary control means disposed to beresponsive to the operation of said control means for effecting theenergization of said closing winding to immediately reclose the circuitbreaker, said auxiliary control means being rendered ineffective tomaintain the closing winding energized in response to the closure of thecircuit breaker.

5. A reclosing circuit breaker system comprising, in combination, atripping winding disposed to release the circuit breaker for movement tothe open position, a closing winding disposed to operate the circuitbreaker to the closed position, switch means disposed to connect saidtripping winding to a current source when the circuit breaker is in theclosed position, an auxiliary control relay disposed to be operated onoperation of said switch means for connecting said closing winding tosaid current source to immediately effect a reclosure of the circuitbreaker, and means responsive to the closure of the circuit breaker foreffecting the opening of the auxiliary relay to deenergize the closingwinding.

6. A system for reclosing a circuit breaker interconnecting twoelectrical circuits comprising, in combination, tripping means for thecircuit breaker, closing means for the circuit breaker, means disposedto be operated in response to the occurrence of a fault on one of saidcircuits for substantially simultaneously effecting the functioning ofsaid tripping and closing means, and means responsive to the closure ofthe circuit breaker for rendering the closing means ineffective;

7. A system for reclosing a circuit breaker interconnecting twoelectrical circuits comprising, in combination, tripping means for thecircuit breaker, closing means for the circuit breaker, means disposedto be operated on the occurrence of a fault on one of said circuits forinitiating the operation of said tripping means, means operable inresponse to the operation of said fault responsive means for initiatingthe operation of said closing means, and means actuated on closure ofthe circuit breaker for rendering said last mentioned means ineiiectiveto again initiate the operation of the closing means so long as thefault responsive means is in its operated condition.

8. A system for reclosing a circuit breaker interconnecting twoelectrical circuits comprising, in combination, a tripping windingdisposed to release the circuit breaker for, movement to the openposition, a closing winding disposed to operate the circuit breaker tothe closed position, means disposed to be operated on the occurrence ofa fault on one of said circuits for substantially simultaneouslyeffecting the energization of said windings to trip and immediatelyreclose the circuit breaker, and means responsive to the closure of thebreaker for rendering the last named means ineffective to again reclosethe breaker so long as the fault exists.

9. A system for reclosing a circuit breaker interconnecting twoelectrical circuits comprising, in combination, a tripping windingdisposed to release the circuit breaker for movement to the openposition, a closing winding disposed to operate the circuit breaker tothe closed position, relay means disposed to be operated on theoccurrence of a fault on one of said circuits for effecting theenergization of said tripping winding, an auxiliary relay having areleasable contact element operable in response tothe operation of saidrelay means for effecting the energization of said closing winding toimmediately reclose the circuit breaker, and means operated in responseto the closure of the circuit breaker effecting the release of saidcontact element to deenergize the closing winding while the auxiliaryrelay is still energized.

10. A system for reclosing a circuit breaker interconnecting twoelectrical circuits comprising, in combination, a tripping windingdisposed to release the circuit breaker for movement to the openposition, a closing winding disposed to operate the circuit breaker tothe closed position, a relay disposed to be operated on the occurrenceof a fault on one of said circuits for connecting said tripping windingto a current source, and an auxiliary relay disposed to be oper d on theoperation of said fault responsive relay for connecting said closingwinding to said current source, before the breaker reaches its fulltopen position to immediately effect a reclosure oi the circuit breaker,said auxiliary relay being operated in response to the closure of thebreaker to disconnect e closing winding from the current source.

11. A system for reclosing a circuit breaker interconnecting twoelectrical circuits comprising, in combination, tripping means for thedircuit breaker, closing means for the circuit breaker, means disposedto be responsive to the occurrence of a fault on one of said circuitsfor substantially simultaneously initiating one sequence of operation toeiiect the functioning of said tripping means and another sequence ofoperation to effect the functioning of said closing means, meansresponsive to the closure of the breaker for terminating said othersequence, and time delay means for preventing the reinitiation of saidother sequence during a predetermined interval 12. A system forreclosing a circuit breaker interconnecting two electrical circuitscompris ing, in combination, tripping means for the circuit breaker,closing means for the circuit breaker, means disposed to be operated onthe occurrence of a fault on one of said circuits for initiating theoperation of said tripping means, and means including time delay meansoperable in response to the operation of said fault responsive means forinitiating the operation of said closing means, meansoperated inresponse to the closure of the breaker or rendering said meansineffective, said time delay means being operable to prevent asubsequent operation of said closing means during a predeterminedinterval.

13. A system for reclosing a circuit breaker interconnecting twoelectrical circuits comprising, in combination, a tripping windingdisposed to release the circuit breaker for movement to the openposition, a closing winding disposed to opmeans responsive to theclosing operation of the breaker for deenergizing the closing winding,and time delay means disposed to prevent the reenergization of saidclosing winding during a predetermined interval after said faultresponsiveate the circuit breaker to the closed position,

means disposed to be operated on the occurrence of a fault on one ofsaid circuits for effecting the energization of said tripping winding,time delay means disposed to be responsive to the operation of saidfault responsive means, said time delay means being characterized byhaving contact members which are quickly closed and delayed in opening,auxiliary means disposed to be operated on closure of said contactmembers for eifecting the energization of said closing winding, andmeans disposed to be operated when the circult breaker reaches apredetermined position for rendering said auxiliary means ineffective tomaintain said closing winding energized.

15. A system for reclosing a circuit breaker interconnecting twoelectrical circuits comprising, in combination, a tripping windingdisposed to release the circuit breaker for movement to the openposition, a closing winding disposed to operate the circuit breaker tothe closed position, a relay disposed to be operated on the occurrenceof a fault on one of said circuits for connecting said tripping windingto a current source, a time delay relay disposed to be responsive to theoperation of said fault responsive relay, said time delay relay beingcharacterized by having contact members which are quickly closed anddelayed in opening, an auxiliary relay disposed to be operated onclosure of said contact members, said auxiliary relay having contactmembers disposed to connect said closing winding to said current source,and releasing means disposed to be operated when the circuit breakerreaches a predetermined position for releasing the operating connectionbetween said last named contact members and said auxiliary relay.

16. A control system for a circuit interrupter interconnecting aplurality of electric circuits comprising, first means operable to causethe interrupter to connect the circuits together, second means operableto cause the interrupter to disconnect the circuits, means operable toinitiate the substantially simultaneous operation of the first andsecond means, and means for rendering said first means ineffective inresponse to the operation of the interrupter to connect the circuitstogether, thereby to effect a substantially instantaneous firstreconnection of the circuits and preclude an immediate secondreconnection thereof. a

1'1. The combination with a circuit interrupter having opening andclosing means, of control means operable to substantially simultaneouslyeffect the operation of the opening and closing means, and meansresponsive to the closure of the interrupter for thereafter renderingthe closing means ineffective.

18. The combination with a circuit interrupter having opening andclosing means, of relay means including an auxiliary relay operable tosubstantially simultaneously effect the operation of the opening andclosing means, and means responsive to the closing operation of theinterrupter for controlling the auxiliary relay to thereafter render theclosing means ineffective.

19. The combination with a circuit interrupter for controlling anelectric circuit, of means for effecting a substantially instantaneousreclosure of the circuit including fault responsive means for effectingthe operation of the interrupter to open the circuit, and meansincluding auxiliary relay means controlled by the fault responsive meansfor effecting operation of the interrupter to reclose the circuit, saidauxiliary relay means being rendered ineffective in response to theoperation of the interrupter to reclose the circuit thereby to precludean immediate second reclosure of the circuit.

20. The combination with a circuit interrupter for electric circuits, ofmeans for effecting a substantially instantaneous reclosure of thecircuit including fault responsive means for operating the interrupterto effect an opening of the circuit, an auxiliary relay responsive tothe fault responsive means for operating the interrupter to effect asubstantially instantaneous reclosure of the circuit, and means operatedin response to the operation of the interrupter to reclose the circuitfor thereafter rendering said auxiliary relay ineffective to operate theinterrupter to effect an immediate second reclosure of the circuit.

21. The combination with a circuit interrupter operable to open andclose electrical circuits and having opening and closing means, of anauxiliary relay operable to cfiect the operation of the closing means ofthe interrupter, said auxiliary relay being further operable when in itsoperated position to render the closing means ineffective, meansoperable to effect the operation of the opening means of the interrupterand the auxiliary relay at substantially the same time to provide foropening the interrupter and reclosing it immediately, and meansresponsive to the closing operation of the interrupter for effecting thesaid further operation of the auxiliary relay to preclude an immediatesecond reclosure.

22. The combination with a circuit interrupter for controlling theconnection between electric circuits having opening and closing means,of a circuit for energizing the closing means, a circuit for energizingthe opening means, an auxiliary relay for controlling the energizationof the circuit for the closing means, said relay having releasablecontact members and electro-responsivc releasing means therefor, anoperating circuit for the auxiliary relay, relay means operable tocontrol the energization of the circuits for the opening means and theauxiliary relay, and an energizing circuit for the electro-responsivereleasing means of the auxiliary relay controlled in accordance with theclosing operation of the interrupter to render the closing meansineffective.

HOWARD G. MACDONALD. ALLAN W. HILL.

